Detectives continue search for missing teen

MANSFIELD – Mansfield police continue to search for a 17-year-old girl reported missing from the area more than three weeks ago.

Tabitha Moore disappeared from the Mansfield area around 6 p.m. July 4, stepmother Sheryl Moore said.

Tabitha was supposed to be with friends that night, but Sheryl said she made calls to Tabitha’s friends’ parents and no one could find her.

Sheryl said she filed a missing person report with the Mansfield Police Department less than 24 hours after she discovered her stepdaughter missing.

Mansfield police Chief Ken Coontz said immediately upon receiving the missing person report, an officer entered Tabitha’s information into the Law Enforcement Agencies Data System. Should an officer anywhere in the country run Tabitha’s name through the LEADS system, Coontz said, that officer would be notified she has been listed as a missing person in Mansfield.

Coontz said an officer created fliers with Tabitha’s identifying information to distribute among officers.

In the weeks following the missing person report, Sheryl said she and her daughter Abigail received tips from neighbors who had information about Tabitha’s location, which she passed along to police.

Sheryl said she fears for her stepdaughter as she may be in the company of a suspected heroin dealer.

At one point, Sheryl said, Tabitha called a friend from a blocked number and told her that she was in Jacksonville, Florida.

That friend contacted Tabitha’s family and asked about Tabitha; a man in the Jacksonville area called that person and expressed fear Tabitha might have overdosed on illegal drugs.

Sheryl said she reached out to law enforcement in Jacksonville, but did not receive any leads. Sheryl then said contacted the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children about her case on July 21.

Two hours later, Sheryl said, she received a call from Mansfield police detectives informing her Detective Bill Bushong was assigned to the case.

Bushong said detectives will continue to follow up on all leads. Bushong said officers contacted Galion Police Department, and officers there searched for the man suspected of being with Tabitha. Officers were unable to find him.

Tabitha is 5 feet, 5 inches tall and weighs about 175 pounds. She has auburn hair and blue eyes.

Anyone with information related to Tabitha or her whereabouts is asked to call the Mansfield Police Department at 419-755-9432.